History has been made for Sengwa Primary School in Gokwe as four young girls from the rural school departed for South Africa to represent Zimbabwe at the African Schools Chess Championship, marking the school's first-ever international sporting assignment.

The learners are part of Team Zimbabwe competing at the continental tournament in Cape Town from July 6 to 11, where the country's best young chess players will battle for honours against top school teams from across Africa.

For Sengwa Primary, the trip is about much more than chess. It is a landmark achievement for a school located in one of Zimbabwe's remote rural communities, with the girls becoming the first learners in the school's history to travel by air and compete on the international stage.

Sengwa Primary School headmaster Simon Dera said the historic trip had brought pride not only to the school but to the entire district.

"We want to thank Her Excellency for selecting Sengwa Primary School in Gokwe from among so many schools in Zimbabwe to represent the country in South Africa," said Dera.

He said the journey represented a historic first for the school.

"This is the first time in the history of Sengwa Primary School that our learners are flying to Cape Town, South Africa, for such a tournament. Some of us have never boarded an aeroplane, but our girls are now getting that opportunity. It is something we are very proud of," he said.

Dera also praised efforts to introduce chess in remote communities, saying the sport had opened doors that many never imagined possible.

"It is a welcome development because chess has been brought to places like Gokwe, which many people describe as being in the middle of nowhere. Today, our children are proving that talent can come from anywhere," he said.

Assistant coach Colletta Bhamu described the opportunity as a dream come true for the school and the wider Gokwe community.

"We are very happy here at Sengwa Primary School in Gokwe to be part of this championship. It is really difficult for a school like ours in the rural areas to be recognised because schools in towns are more easily noticed. This opportunity means a lot to us," she said.

Bhamu said the participation of the four girls would inspire more young girls to take up chess.

"This empowers and promotes the girl child. We believe many more girls will now come forward to participate in the sport because they can see that they too have an opportunity to reach this level," she said.

The Zimbabwe Chess Federation said Sengwa Primary's participation alongside Budiriro 4 Primary School reflects its commitment to ensuring that children from both rural and urban communities have equal opportunities to excel through chess.

Federation president Todd Mapingire said the tour demonstrated the impact of partnerships in transforming the lives of young people through education and sport.

"This tour is more than a competition; it is a demonstration of what is possible when partnerships work for the benefit of our children. For many of these children, this is their first time boarding an aircraft. That excitement alone tells a powerful story about the life-changing opportunities that chess can create," he said.

The Federation also acknowledged the support of its Patron of Junior Chess, Auxillia Mnangagwa, whose backing has strengthened junior chess development and expanded opportunities for young Zimbabweans, particularly girls.